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Saturday, January 06, 2007

Too Little, Too Late for Reforms in New Jersey, as McGreevey is "Hung" in Trenton.

Richard G. Jones, "McGreevey Finds Way Back to the State House, on Canvas," The New York Times, January 3, 2007, at p. B5.Kelly Hollowwelk, "First Person Cloning, A Call to Action," January 20, 2004 http://www.bpnews.net/bpcolum.asp?=126Richard G. Jones, "Ban on All Political Gifts Is Included in Ethics Reform Proposals by New Jersey Senate Leader," in The New York Times, January 5, 2007, at p. B5.

I am unable to post essays at my msn group, so I will try to do so here. I will continue to fight to express my opinions, somehow and somewhere. As of January 7, 2007 at 10:30 A.M., all efforts to post new essays at my msn group are still unsuccessful. I will keep trying. The absence of new posts is not voluntary. Some essays posted at my msn group have been deleted by hackers. If I am ever in a position to post essays again at Critique, then I will re-post them there. Otherwise, I will post them here and look for a new blog.

My efforts to post a new essay about the rationality of belief in God have been unsuccessful. As of Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at 9: 27 A.M., I cannot post new essays at my msn group. I am struggling to do so here, as I receive distracting phone calls from "anonymous" at 623-238-6001.

"TRENTON -- The last time James E. McGreevey was inside the governor's office, his name was painted on the glass door."

"But early Tuesday, when most employees were beginning to trickle into the Capitol from the New Year's Day holiday, Mr. McGreevey had already arrived -- his first visit since his resignation in November 2004 -- for a ceremony to mark his legacy [legacy?] in another way: with the hanging of his official portrait."

Use of the word "hanging" may conjure associations with the unfortunate (for him) demise of Saddam Hussein and Jim McGreevey's tasteless "I am a Gay American" speech at his disgraceful departure from office. Strangely, a Times editor did not see that.

"The unveiling which was unannounced and closed to the public, was less a ceremony than it was a private gathering of Mr. McGreevey, his parents, a couple of former aides, his partner, Mark O'Donnell, and Gov. Jon S. Corzine. It was a far more muted affair [affair?] than the release of the ex-governor's book, 'The Confession.' ..."

Corzine obviously hoped to escape the scene with as little fan-fare as possible. In a state experiencing a financial crisis, mostly thanks to the "short-falls" ($4.5 billion went south) and gimmicks resulting from those mysteriously disappearing funds under the McGreevey Administration, which was marred by corruption and theft, "allegedly" -- getting this little ceremony over with, quickly, was high on the Governor's list of priorities for the day.

It is reported in the Times that the "president of the New Jersey Senate [Richard J. Cody] on Thursday proposed a ban on all gifts to lawmakers" -- I know, I laughed too -- "as part of a sweeping package of bills intended to stiffen penalties for ethics violations."

People who bribe politicians tend not to declare their bribes on tax returns. Neither do they mention their real incomes. Where and how does Mr. McGreevey live again? Political operatives and bosses in New Jersey are usually seen walking around with dirty manilla envelopes filled with cash that they "just found somewhere, I dunno."

"Mr. Cody said the measures, which he hoped would pass by the end of the legislative session on July 1, would bolster public confidence in elected officials in a state that has seen MORE THAN 200 FEDERAL CORRUPTION CONVICTIONS in the past five years." More convictions are on the way. This continuing pattern will not change because my communicative efforts are obstructed or because any critics are silenced or threatened. New Jersey is a cesspool of political and legal corruption and incompetence, where power is often in the hands of organized crime.

There is no confidence in New Jersey politicians, Richard, because most of them are corrupt, the rest are pretty stupid. The most stupid ones are appointed to Superior Court judgeships or the state's tarnished and inept Supreme Court. As Senator Bob Menendez said, very eloquently: "Well, on the one hand, but on the other hand ..."

Good luck with that Grand Jury, Bob. Hey, what do you have in that paper bag?

As New Jersey's residents ponder exploding cancer rates that are devouring "loved-ones" (Evelyn Waugh, where are you when we need you?) caused by chuckling polluters -- now completely unregulated by a corrupt state government -- they seem unimpressed by a ban on metal baseball bats and a prohibition on smoking in public places. I wonder why?

A large flattering portrait of McGreevey, paid for by taxpayers -- who will be happy to know that it was not cheap -- holding a law book (irony?) will forever adorn the people's property. This way everyone can admire and be reminded of Mr. McGreevey's unique contribution to American political life. No wonder that law book is closed and has a little dust and some cobwebs on it.

I will certainly never forget the former governor or his many colorful friends. Bless their little hearts.

As teachers' pensions vanish like a gambler's lucky streak, even as New Jersey becomes a synonym for graft and political corruption, for dishonest and inept law courts and a hopelessly tainted judiciary -- New Jersey's citizens will also remember Mr. McGreevey and his buddies. Take care, Jim.

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About Me

I am the author of: "Paul Ricoeur and the Hermeneutics of Freedom" (2004) and "Why I am Not an Ethical Relativist and Other Essays 2000-2006" (2006), both SHOULD BE available at: http://www.lulu.com/JuanG, and from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and free download on-line. In France, see Amazon, Fr. and in the UK, Blackwell.com. I thank however many people really view this profile. Efforts to destroy these essays are always expected. My image-posting feature may be blocked or destroyed by hackers.